Frequently Asked Questions

A Passport Health travel clinic is a one-stop destination for international travelers. Our travel medicine specialists administer, recommend and offer advice on:

• Travel vaccines and medications
• Specialty travel health products
• Safety tips, security information and e-travel alerts
• Medical evacuation insurance

Each traveler receives a comprehensive, destination-specific consultation that covers everything from avoiding and protecting yourself from contaminated food and water to properly guarding against mosquitoes that carry deadly diseases like yellow fever, malaria and dengue fever.

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Unlike primary care physicians, Passport Health travel clinics maintain a large inventory of hard-to-find travel vaccines to prevent yellow fever, typhoid fever, hepatitis A and other diseases endemic in countries around the globe. In fact, family doctors across North America refer thousands of their own patients to Passport Health every year because we offer a very high level of care in a specialized medical field.

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Our custom travel consultations typically last 45 minutes and include a comprehensive itinerary with helpful information about the countries you will visit. Our highly skilled Travel Medicine Specialists will discuss health recommendations (from the CDC, WHO and other sources) as well as medical or vaccination requirements specific to countries on your itinerary. Our consultation rooms are private and comfortable and your care is our top priority.

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Many travel vaccines require two weeks to take full effect. Scheduling your appointment well in advance of your trip promotes health protection. Keep in mind, though, that it usually is not too late to visit our travel clinics. We will always do our best to accommodate last minute travelers.

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Call one of our experts at or schedule online 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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Passport Health provides a holistic travel health service. Unlike some pharmacies or doctor’s offices, we specialize in travel vaccines and advice. Our staff is trained to provide you with all the travel health information, immunizations and products you may need for your trip. Because each trip is different, it can be hard to give a general price for a given visit. Pricing can vary based on a variety of factors like which vaccines you need and immunization availability. Contact your local Passport Health to learn what pricing may look like for your specific visit.

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While plans vary, many insurance providers do not cover travel vaccines under standard policies – even if administered by a family doctor. It is best to verify coverage with your provider. While Passport Health does not accept insurance, we do offer to submit a claim to your insurance provider at many of our clinics. In some case, a small fee for this service is applied. We also provide you with a receipt that has all the information needed for you to submit your claim. Medicare does not cover any vaccines or medicines for foreign travel.

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Every itinerary is different, which is why we customize our consultations based on the countries you will be traveling to or through. We may recommend a yellow fever vaccination for some travelers, but not others. Generally, recommended travel vaccines include:

• Yellow Fever
• Typhoid
• Hepatitis A
  

• Hepatitis B
• Routine immunizations

The combination of travel vaccines recommended depends on many factors, such as:

• Countries visiting or traveling through
• Length of stay
• Travel accommodations – hostel or five-star resort
• Time of year – rainy or dry season
• Elevation – sea level or above the tree line
• Immunization and medical history
• Urban or rural travel
• Current outbreaks
• Countless other factors

Scheduling an appointment at one of our hundreds of travel clinics across North America will connect you with a highly trained Travel Medicine Specialist who can tell you specifically the vaccines you should receive to stay healthy while traveling internationally.

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Yes, children also need travel vaccines. Common immunizations include: typhoid, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis and rabies.

Passport Health provides these and other travel vaccinations and medication for children and young adults.

To ensure a high level of care, bring your child’s immunization record to your appointment and a Travel Medicine Specialist will review it at the time of your consultation. Children under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian present.

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No matter where you are traveling, you should know that you will be exposed to certain organisms that could make you severely ill. Passport Health has the most up-to-date travel health information. We are in direct contact with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and world health surveillance sources who constantly monitor outbreaks and other health hazards. With Passport Health, you get the latest developments in travel medicine and first class customer service at each visit.

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Yes. People traveling to their home country after living abroad should visit one of our travel clinics because most antibodies or natural protection from disease is lost after leaving the country of origin. Additionally, immunization standards and schedules differ from those of the United States, making it imperative to receive the proper vaccinations before traveling abroad.

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Immunizations work by tricking the body into believing it is experiencing a full-scale invasion by an infectious agent so that the immune system can fortify its defenses. During vaccination, a harmless pharmaceutical, bio-engineered product that cannot cause the actual disease is introduced to the body, and the immune system responds by producing antibodies to attack the intruder. Thereafter, a memory of this “invasion” remains so that the immune system can quickly recognize and neutralize disease-causing agents if they enter the body during your travels.

Still looking for answers? Call one of our helpful experts at or visit one of these helpful pages:

• Travel Medicine
• Vaccines For Travel
• Travel Health Consultation
• Travel Health Alerts
• Passport Health Travel Clinic Locations

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The CDC and WHO recommend travelers to India receive the following vaccines:

• Typhoid
• Japanese encephalitis
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Rabies
• Polio
• Routine immunizations

In-depth information on health considerations for people traveling to India are located on our India page. Or schedule an appointment and a highly skilled Travel Medicine Specialist will be able to recommend specifically what vaccines you need to travel to India.

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While traveling to Africa offers unique adventure and cultural experiences, travelers need to prepare before visiting to ensure a healthy trip. The CDC and WHO recommend travelers to African countries receive the following vaccines:

• Typhoid
• Yellow fever
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Meningitis
• Rabies
• Polio
• Routine Immunizations

Find more In-depth information on health considerations for people traveling to Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and other countries on our Destination Advice pages or schedule an appointment at one of travel clinics.

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While the Zika virus is present throughout Brazil and there is currently no vaccine for the disease, there are precautions you can take to protect your health. Mosquito nets and insect repellent sprays are recommended first lines of defense to keep yourself safe. But beyond Zika, the CDC and WHO recommend travelers to Brazil receive the following vaccines:

• Typhoid
• Yellow fever
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Rabies
• Routine Immunizations

Learn more on what vaccines you need by visiting our Brazil page or call one of our experts at . Or schedule online 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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Yes, an appointment is necessary to allow enough time to provide a high level of care and to answer any and all of your questions.

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Bring your medical history records, if you have them, including your International Certificate of Vaccination (ICV). If you do not have an ICV, one will be filled out properly and given to you at your appointment. There are no special preparations required before coming to an appointment.

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While generally there are no physical preparations required, arriving armed with as much detail about your travels will help our medical professionals ensure we provide the best possible care to protect your health while traveling.

It is important to be at least five to ten minutes early for your appointment. We also recommend that you complete the Patient Travel Health Information Form prior to an appointment via the online link that will be emailed to you.

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